The spot, which SBA is spending $50,000 to run, says Casey's vote in favor of President Barack Obama's health care law contradicts his position on abortion.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

"Bob Casey Jr. says he's pro-life but Casey Jr. voted for Obamacare, the largest expansion of abortion in U.S. history, even forcing churches to pay for abortion-inducing drugs, against their religions belief," the narrator says.

Outside Republicans have increasingly been seeking an opportunity in the state, and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign recently announced an ad buy, their first in the state this year. The non-partisan Cook Political Report says the race leans in Casey's direction and the Rothenberg Political Report says the race favors Casey's re-election.

Republican challenger Tom Smith has raised $20 million and spent $17 million, while Casey has brought in only $9 million and so far spent $5 million, according to Federal Election Commission Data.

Regardless, a recent poll in the Keystone State showed Casey leading his challenger among likely voters 48% to 39%. The Franklin and Marshall College poll, conducted between October 23 and 28, had a sampling error of plus or minus 4.2%.

Abortion issues have also proved problematic for Smith. At an August campaign stop, he was explaining his opposition to abortion, including in cases of rape, when asked a hyothetical question about a family member being raped, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

"I lived something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. . . . Don't get me wrong; it wasn't rape," he said. Pressed if he was comparing equating a single mother's pregnancy with a rape victim's pregnancy, he insisted they were not, according to the paper, then added, "But, well, put yourself in a father's position. Yes, I mean, it is similar."

He later told reporters that he was not comparing the two, the Inquirer said.

soundoff(14 Responses)

incredulous

This myth of "abortion inducing drugs" is shameful.

October 31, 2012 07:40 pm at 7:40 pm |

BillSD33

You can be Pro-life and Pro-Choice. Pro-choice is allowing an individual to make their own decision about what is best for them. Pro-life is trying to tell everyone that only they are right and their religious zealous beliefs trump everyone else.

October 31, 2012 07:58 pm at 7:58 pm |

JohnBorg

Susan B. Anthony List isn't a non-partison pro-life organization. Casey, who has been pro-life his entire career, is being questioned not because of his abortion stance but because he is a Democrat. SBA List is partisan. They care more about what your political affiliation is than your stance on abortion.

October 31, 2012 08:01 pm at 8:01 pm |

Facts don't Lie

what the heck is wrong with these people? Don't they know that Mitt Romney is the only one that is allowed to change his views not only on abortion but anything he darn well pleases? Hopefully the Republicans will not have to deal with such nonsense out of Casey again.

October 31, 2012 08:24 pm at 8:24 pm |

Thomas

SBA is spending $50,000 on this bogus ad.

With that kind of cash wasted , Why don't they help out the the disaster victims on the East Coast .

There are people that need it !

October 31, 2012 08:34 pm at 8:34 pm |

becky

I am a senior citizen. I am a mother, mother-in-;aw and grandmother. Each of the women in my family deserve to make their own choices in life. I do and will respect their choices because there is nothing more important than a woman's right to decide whether she will choose to be pro life or pro a women's right to choose.

I would hope that other women will decide that it is a women's right to choose. I hope they will make sure that each woman has all of the FACTS needed to make that choice without forcing the issue. I hope they will let women know their thoughts and then let the women make up their own minds. I hope they will refrain from picketing, refrain from blocking doorways, refrain from yelling and hollering at patients, and refrain from threatening the lives of doctors, clinic workers, nurses, medical assistants and everyone else. We do not have the authority to make judgements or to determine how the law should be interpreted. Let's get abortion off the legal pages and allow each woman or each couple to determine the future. Those we love must be trusted to do what is best for them and we must allow them the freedom to do that.

October 31, 2012 09:37 pm at 9:37 pm |

DENNA

Bottom line, men should not be making ANY decision when it comes to a woman's body. That control thing may go over big in the Romney house, but I think most American women would like the final say on what happens to them.

October 31, 2012 09:43 pm at 9:43 pm |

Mainer

life begine when we take our first "Unassisted" breath, when the doctor taps us on the bottom and we sing out..."I'm Here !" I believe in the SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, Keep your pathetic twisted religion to yourself.

October 31, 2012 10:22 pm at 10:22 pm |

aaron

The Repubs haven't manufactured lies about Obama's handling of the storm yet, so they gotta keep themselves occupied making up crap about something until they think up some nonsense about the storm.

October 31, 2012 11:19 pm at 11:19 pm |

d

How these super pacs and gop lie!!! like rugs....bad bad karma

October 31, 2012 11:56 pm at 11:56 pm |

lies from the left but mostly hate

Here's my view on abortion. A) You can avoid all of this by not having sex (it's free). B) There are adoption agencies and loving parents aplenty in this world and C)That fetus will become a human after it develops and is very much aliveduring pregnancy. How it is diffrent if the baby is killed in or out of the womb is beyond me.

November 1, 2012 01:04 am at 1:04 am |

gius

The 47percent are the ones cleaning up the hurricane mess.Wonder what the one percent are doing to help?

November 1, 2012 01:09 am at 1:09 am |

Marry

This very important law protecting a woman’s right to choose has been ripped to pieces by the GOP! One can be personally against abortion but one can also be pro-choice!

I used to be a member of Feminists for Life which at the time, at least, was affiliated w the SBA list. I am ashamed of anyone behind this ad. You guys know that when most people think of abortion, they are thinking of stopping beating hearts, not oral contraceptives or the morning after pill. And the latest studies indicate that the morning after pill works strictly by preventing conception. Because you equate contraception with abortion doesn't mean other voters do. All you "good Catholics," what happened in this case to the idea that you can't use an evil means to achieve a good end? Jesus said "Satan is a liar and the father of lies."